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The Daily Insight

How do I get my security camera to work through a window?

Author

John Thompson

Published Feb 16, 2026

How do I get my security camera to work through a window?

If you want your camera’s night vision to work through glass, you’ll want to provide exterior lighting. You can use either traditional outdoor lighting or IR lighting. You must also either turn off or cover the camera’s built-in IR lighting.

Can I put a camera outside my house?

Yes, it is perfectly legal as long as due care is taken. Most people who choose to install CCTV at home do so primarily to deter would-be intruders from trespassing onto or breaking into their homes, and this is completely legitimate.

Will a security camera work behind glass?

There are two main types of motion sensors used in security cameras/systems. Security cameras with a motion sensor that calculates changes in pixels will still be able to detect movement and record through glass or a glass window.

Will a motion detector camera work through glass?

Motion detection does not work through windows reliably. Arlo cameras use two different kinds of motion detection, and both types are inhibited by glass, especially windows. Most glass used in homes today is insulated, limiting the movement of heat through the glass.

What’s the best way to mount a security camera?

About nine feet off the ground outside and seven feet inside is a good rule-of-thumb for mounting security cameras. One of the most common mistakes people make when mounting their cameras is to put them too high or too low. Too high and your camera may not be at the right angle to catch people’s faces.

What should I do if I cant use my outdoor camera?

But, if you can’t use an outdoor camera for any reason, consider these options to improve the video you do get from your indoor camera. The first goal in gaining a better picture is to take the built-in IR lights out of the equation. Traditional lights are the simplest way to accomplish that goal. If you have a porch light, leave it on.

What can I do to clear up my picture on my security camera?

Turning off the IR lights improves the picture even more. If you can’t push the camera onto the glass, try to angle it to offset the reflection. Even an angle of five degrees will help. Moving the reflection out of direct line of sight will clear up the picture enough so you can get by. Traditional lights aren’t always the best option.

What kind of security camera do I need for front door?

At a bare minimum, you will want at least one camera covering your front door, and potentially one monitoring your backdoor, as these are often the primary points of entry. Windows with ground floor access are also key points of vulnerability and could be monitored with cameras, window sensors, or both.

How can I Stop my security camera from looking through my window?

To prevent glare on a surveillance camera looking through a window, users could turn off or disable IR lights as well as status lights at night, which helps mitigate IR security camera window reflection and enable you to see through glass or glass window screen.

How can I get my security camera to work through glass?

If you really need to point the camera out through the glass, try placing the camera close against the window or glass. Tip 8. Make sure the room the camera is in is darker than the outside at night. Tip 9. Keep the glass panels or window glasses clean so that the cameras catch more details through the glass window. Tip 10.

Why do you need a front door security camera?

That makes your front door the most important point of protection, which is why at least one of your security cameras should be a video doorbell, which notifies you if motion is detected or if someone presses the button.

But, if you can’t use an outdoor camera for any reason, consider these options to improve the video you do get from your indoor camera. The first goal in gaining a better picture is to take the built-in IR lights out of the equation. Traditional lights are the simplest way to accomplish that goal. If you have a porch light, leave it on.